Fluid displacement apparatus



May 18, 1937. M.-W. DOLE FLUID DISPLACEMENT APPARATUS Original Filed May 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l or 1 INVENITOR M. W. DOLE May' 18, 1937.

FLUID DISPLACEMENT APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 2, 1935 IINVENTOR Patented May 18, 1937 2,081,050 FLUID DISPLACEMENT APPARATUS;

Myron W. Dole, Belmont, Mass. 7

Application May 2, 1935, Serial No. 19,454

' Renewed March 24, 1937 10 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for causing the displacement, or movement of a fluid, against resistance to the displacement of said fluid which may be encountered, due to gravity,

5 opposing pressure, pipe friction, or other cause;

by the direct action of vapor pressure upon the fluid which is to 'be displaced, said apparatus being arranged to continue to operate as long as the vapor pressure acts upon the fluid. By vapor pressure I wish to be understood as referring to any gaseous material which may be under pressure, such as steam, air, carbon dioxide, etc.

Such an apparatus is useful for various purposes, such as displacing fluids where the vapor pressure is insufficient to operate a pump, ejector, or other similar device, or where the useof such pump, ejector, or other similar device is inexpedient for any one of various reasons.

One very important use for this fluid displacement apparatus is to supply water to the feed water heating and storage compartments of a locomotive feed water heater, of the type illustrated in my pending application (Serial No. 7,187), to which reference is herewith made.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and positive device for raising, or displacing, a fluid against pressure, or other resistance which may oppose said displacement.

Another object is to provide a device which shall operate on a small vapor pressure, such for example as the pressure of steam exhausted from the cylinders of a steam engine.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a device which shall displace a fluid which may be so hot that the ordinary type of fluid pump, or ejector will fail to function.

Still another object of my present invention, when used with my previously mentioned locomotive feed water heater, is to provide an apparatus which shall automatically maintain substantially a pre-determined water level in the feed water heating compartment and which shall rapidly supply a large quantity of water to this and to the storage compartments and thus quickly restore the water level when the latter falls below the pre-determined point.

A still further object of my present invention is to provide an apparatus which when applied to my previously mentioned feed water heater shall operate on the exhaust steam which is brought to the tender primarily for heating the feed water, and shall operate even when the locomotive is working light and thus the exhaust pressure is small. This feature obviates the necessity of bringing live steam from the locomotive to the tender, as would be the caseif a pump were used, or of requiring a high exhaust steam pressure to maintain the water level in the heating and storage compartments, as would be the case of an ejector were used for this purpose.

A still further object of my present invention, when applied to the aforementioned locomotive feed water heatenis to utilize the surging of the water, due to the motion of the'tender, to obtain a water level as much above that in the supplying compartment as possible, in all of the compartments receiving their water from the supplying compartment by gravitational flow.

Further objects are to otherwise improve my aforementioned feed water heater, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the appended claims.

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof, which in this case is my present invention as it might be applied to a locomotive feed water heater, such as the one to which I have previously referred, in my pending application (Serial No. 7,187), which will now be described, although it will be'understood that numerous and varied changes in the design of the apparatus may be made without in any way departing from the intent of my invention, likewise its application is to be understood as not limited to a locomotive feed water heater.

In the drawings; p p

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a locomotive tender-arranged substantially as set forth in my aforementioned pending application, for feed water heating, but modified as required for the use of the improvements contained in my present invention. This section is taken on the line I, I.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tender with a portion shown as a section on the line 2, 2 and with a portion broken out in order to disclose further details.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary and enlarged section on the same line I, l as'was Fig. 1, having the details which were clearly shown in Fig. 1 removed, in order to disclose more clearly certain new features which will be described hereafter.

In the drawings, l indicates a portion of a locomotive and 2 the tender thereof. As is usual with tenders of this particular type, this tender is provided with the transverse horizontal partition 3 which forms the floor of the coal compartment 4, the front end 5 of which floor constitutes the usual shoveling plate.

The space beneath the partition 3 constitutes the space for the storage of water, and this space is divided by partitions into a plurality of compartments, one of which is a main water compartment and another of which is a feed water heating compartment. In the construction herein illustrated there are four such partitions B, 1, 8, and 9 which divide the water space of the tender into the main water compartment III, the feed water heating compartment l I, an auxiliary or storage compartment l 2, an intermediate com partment l3, and a pressure chamber l4, although in some cases the use of more than one pressure chamber might be desirable and would not depart from the invention. The number of storage or other compartments between the main compartment l [I and the feed water heating compartment l I may be varied also, Without departing from the invention. The compartments ll, l2, and I3 extend underneath the floor of the coal compartment and in the construction shown they also extend along one side of said coal compartment to a point somewhat above the floor 3, and for this purpose the tender is made with the vertical wall l5 forming the inner wall of the upper portion of these compartments and, with the plate l6 forming the top of said compartments.

The compartments and pressure chamber have communication at their lower portions through ports which permit gravitational flow from the main water compartment H] to the intermediate compartment l3 and from thence to pressure chamber l 4, and also from intermediate compartment [3 to the storage compartment l2 and thence to heating compartment II. The port in partition 8 is controlled by a flap or non-return valve H, the approach to this port being through the flaring funnel, or scoop, l 8, the object of this funnel being to cause as much water as possible from compartment ill to enter the port, due to the surging of the water in the tender.

Flap valve I9 controls the port leading into pressure chamber l4, while flap valves and 2| control the ports giving access to the storage and heating compartments respectively.

The feed water heating compartment II and the storage compartment 12 both have communication at their upper parts with the cold water compartment ill by means of the restricted vents 22 and 23 and the vent pipe 24, which latter is of ample size.

An exhaust steam supply pipe is indicated by 25 and this pipe is adapted to receive exhaust steam from the locomotive cylinders and deliver it to the feed water heating compartment II.

This cylinder exhaust may be delivered to the feed water in the heating compartment II by means of the spray pipe 26, or other suitable heat exchanger, may be diverted by control 21 into storage compartment I2 and delivered to the water therein by spray pipe 28, or other suitable heat exchanger, may be shut off from storage compartment l2 by control 29, whose upper end is closed by closure plate 30, or may be re-directed back to the water in heating compartment II, by the action of control 21; all as set forth in my previously referred to pending application (Serial No. 7,187).

Another exhaust steam supply pipe 3| is indicated and this pipe is adapted to receive the exhaust steam from the locomotive auxiliary devices, such as head light generator, air pump, feed pump, stoker engine, booster engine, etc. This exhaust steam may be delivered to the water in heating compartment H by means of spray pipe 32, or other suitable heat exchanger, may be diverted by control 33 into storage compartment l2 and delivered to the water therein by spray pipe 34, or other suitable heat exchanger.

Again it is posible, if there is suflicient pressure in compartments I l and I2, to have control 35 divert this exhaust steam from the locomotive auxiliary devices previously enumerated, into the water contained in intermediate compartment l3 by means of spray pipe 36, or" other suitable heat exchanger, thus heating the water therein contained, the latter being the feed water for the pressure chamber I 4, and at the same time providing that at all times there shall be an open exhaust for the auxiliaries, in order that they may continue to run, which would not be the case if one of the controls were permitted to close off pipe 3|, as was the case with pipe 25.

Another possibility, as to the disposal of the exhaust steam from the auxiliaries, is that control 33 may re-divert the steam back into feed water heating compartment l I, due to the pressure being relieved therein by being dissipated at the vent or by condensation caused by the injection of cooler water, as will be discussed later on. All of these possible disposals of the exhaust steam from the locomotive auxiliaries aresubstantially as set forth in greater detail in my previously referred to pending application (Serial No. 7,187),

Since in the operation of the heater there is likely to be developed in compartments II and I2 suflicient pressure to interfere with the gravitational flow of water into said compartments, and thus, since it is highly desirable that both of said compartments shall be maintained substantially full of water at all times, I have provided herewith novel means for maintaining a practically constant water level in said feed water heating compartment l l and in storage compartment l2, independently of the gravitational flow of water to these compartments.

For this purpose I propose to employ one or more pressure chambers, through a port in the lower part of which water shall enter by gravitational flow, but which water is prevented from leaving through the entrance port by a flap or non-return valve. Pressure may be admitted to the upper part of the aforementioned pressure chamber, or pressure chambers, and a delivery pipe is provided for conducting the water contained in the pressure chamber to storage compartment l2 and to heating compartment II.

In order that the operation of the device may continue as long as water is needed in the above mentioned compartments, I propose to use a valved means for cutting off the pressure from the pressure chamber, when the latter is emptied, and at the same time to vent the pressure which is already therein, in order to permit gravitational ingress of more water and thus the repetition of these operations until the water level in compartments H and I2 is restored.

In my selected embodiment of means for accomplishing the above results, I have provided pressure chamber l4, the port giving ingress to the lower part of which is controlled by the flap valve I9. I have shown this pressure chamber as receiving its water from the intermediate compartment I 3, in order to take advantage of whatever heating of the water therein may have been accomplished by the spray pipe 36. A pipe connection 3'! brings exhaust steam from pipe 25, which steam passes through valve 38, said valve being controlled by float 39, valve 38 being so arranged and located that when the water compartment level in feed water heating compartment II is at the predetermined point the float 39 is raised and valve 38 is closed, thus allowing no steam to flow in pipe 31. When however the water level in feed water heating compartment I I drops appreciably from the predetermined point, the float 39 is lowered and valve 38 permits steam to flow through pipe 31.

In pressure chamber I 4, pipe 31 contains another valve 48, controlled by float M, and so arranged and located that when float M is raised bywater in the pressure chamber the valve 40 is opened and allows steam to flow through pipe 31 and to the upper part of pressure chamber I4. When pressure chamber I4 is emptied however, float 4| is lowered and valve 48 being thus closed, stops the flow of steam through pipe 3! and to the upper part of pressure chamber I4. At the top of chamber I4 is a restricted vent 42, through which pressure may escape to intermediate compartment I3 and thence through vent pipe 24 to the upper part of the main compartment I8, so that the pressure in chamber I4 may be relieved thereby.

A pipe 43, of generous size, extends nearly to the bottom of pressure chamber I4 and leads into storage compartment I2 where a small part of the flow in pipe 43 is conducted therefrom by pipe 44 and is added to the water in compartment I2. The major portion of the flow in pipe 43 is conducted to the feed water heating compartment II where it is discharged in the upper part of said compartment through a spray nozzle, or spray valve 45. Thus most of the water flowing through pipe 43 is discharged in the form of a spray, into the steam which is present in the upper part of feed water heating compartment I I much of the time. Discharging this water as a spray, tends to heat the water before it joins that already in compartment II; aids in the occlusion of air and gases from the water, and by condensing the steam which is in the upper part of II, reduces the pressure therein and thus causes a rapid action of controls 21 and 33 to divert all of the exhaust steam back into compartment II where it is needed, since water which may be cold, or cool, is now being injected therein through spray nozzle 45. r.

The operation of the entire fluid displacement apparatus is as follows. When water is removed from the feed water heating compartment H, by the feed pump, or other boiler feeding device, through suction outlet 46, the dropping of the water level in the compartment lowers float 39,0pens valve 38 and allows exhaust steam to flow in pipe 31. The water in pressure chamber I4, being at the level of that in intermediate compartment I3, has raised float 4I, opened valve 48 and thus allows steam flowing in pipe 31 to reach the top of pressure chamber l4. This pressure acting upon the surface of the water contained in pressure chamber I4 displaces the water and forces it upward through water delivery pipe 43. It might be noted in passing that this displacement of water takes place regardless of the temperature of the water, which if hot might cause difl'icultyif a pump or ejector were used. A part of the flow of water in delivery plate 43 passes into storage compartment I2 through the restricted pipe 44, but as has already been stated, the major portion of the flow in pipe 43 passes into the feed water heating compartment II, through spray nozzle 45.

When the water in pressure chamber I4 has passed upward through water delivery pipe 43,

if the amount has not been sufficient to raise the water level in feed water heating compartment I I to the predetermined point and thus raised float 39, closed valve 38 and stopped the flow of steam in pipe 31, it is obvious that pressure chamber I4 must be again filled with water and the process repeated. With the pressure which now fills pressure chamber I4, holding flap valve I9 to its seat, it is clear that no water will enter the pressure chamber.

To take care of this situation, my invention provides valve 48 controlled by float 4| and the restricted vent 42. As soon therefore as the water is removed from pressure chamber I4, float 4| is lowered, valve 48 is closed and the flow of steam in pipe 31 is stopped. The pressure which is already in pressure chamber I4 is soon dissipated by the restricted vent 42 and this allows the water contained in intermediate compartment I3 to enter pressure chamber through flap valve I9 and thus flll the pressure chamber to the level of the water in the intermediate compartment. Water thus again flowing into the pressure chamber I4, raises float M and opens valve 40. Thus again admitting steam to the upper part of pressure chamber I4, provided only that float 39 is still lowered and valve 38 still open, causes the cycle of operations to be repeated and to continue until such time as the water level in feed water heating compartment II is raised to the predetermined point and the rising of -float'39 closes valve 38 and stops the flow of steam to the pressure chamber I4 and thus stops the further action of the displacement apparatus.

I claim:-

1. A fluid displacement apparatus comprising a supply compartment containing the fluid to be displaced and having a variable fluid level therein, a receiving compartment, a vented pressure chambercommunicating with the supply compartment and receiving fluid therefrom by gravitational flow, means controlled by'the fluid level in the receiving compartment to supply gaseous material under pressure to the pressure chamber when the fluid level in said receiving compartment falls below a predetermined point, means providing such a communication between said pressure chamber and the receiving compartment that the fluid in the pressure chamber is forced into the receiving compartment when pressure is developed in said pressure chamber by admission of gaseous material thereto and means controlled by the level of the fluid in the pressure chamber to shut ofl the supply of gaseous material thereto when the fluid level therein falls below a predetermined point.

.2. A fluid displacement apparatus comprising a supply compartment containing the fluid to be displaced and having a variable fluid level therein, a receiving compartment, a pressure chamber communicating with the supply compartment and receiving fluid therefrom by gravitational flow through a port controlled by a non-return valve, means controlled by the fluid level in the receiving compartment to supply gaseous material under pressure to the pressure chamber, when the fluid level in said receiving compartment falls below a predetermined point and means providing such a communication between said pressure chamber and the receiving compartment that the fluid in the pressure chamber is forced into the receiving compartment when pressure is developed in said pressure chamber by admission of gaseous material thereto and means controlled by the fluid level in the pressure chamber to shut ofi the supply of gaseous material thereto when the fluid therein falls below a predetermined point and means to relieve the pressure existing in said pressure chamber when the supply of gaseous material is shut off. e

3. A feed water heater for locomotives comprising a tender having a main water compartment, a feed water heating compartment, a vented pressure chamber, means providing for gravitational flow of water from the water compartment into the pressure chamber, a water delivery pipe leading from near the bottom of the pressure chamber to the feed water heating compartment, means responsive to a falling level of water in the feed water heating compartment to supply steam under pressure in the pressure chamber thereby building up pressure therein which forces the water in said chamber through the delivery pipe into the feed water heating compartment and means responsive to a falling levelin said pressure chamber to shut ofi the supply of steam.

4; A feed water heater for locomotives comprising a tender having a main water compartment, a feed water heating compartment and a vented pressure chamber, means providing for gravitational flow of water from the main water compartment into the pressure chamber, a water delivery pipe leading from near the bottom of the pressure chamber to the feed water heating compartment, means controlled by the water level in said feed Water heating compartment to supply steam to the pressure chamber when the water level in said feed water heating compartment falls below a predetermined point thereby building up a pressure in said pressure chamber which forces the water contained in the pressure chamber through the delivery pipe into the feed water heating compartment, means controlled by the water level in the pressure chamber to shut off the steam supply to said pressure chamber when the water level in the latter falls below a predetermined point, and means toheat the water in said feed water heating compartment.

5. A feed water heater for locomotives comprising a tender having a main water compartment, a feed water heating compartment and a pressure chamber, means providing gravitational flow of water from the main water compartment into the pressure chamber, a water delivery pipe leading from near the bottom of the pressure chamber to the feed water heating compartment, means controlled by the water level in said feed water heating compartment to supply steam to the pressure chamber when the Water level in said feed water heating compartment falls below a predetermined point thereby building up a pressure in said pressure chamber which forces the water therein through the delivery pipe into thefeed water heating compartment, means controlled by the water level in the pressure chamber to shut ofi the steam supply to said pressure chamber when the water level in the latter falls below a predetermined point, means to relieve the pressure that exists in the pressure chamber when the steam supply is shut-off, and means to heat the Water in the said feed water heating compartment.

6. A feed water heater for locomotives comprising a tender having a main water compartment, a feed water heating compartment, an auxiliary heating or storage compartment, and a pressure chamber; means providing for gravitational flow of water from the main watercompartment into the pressure chamber through a port controlled by a nonreturn valve; a water delivery pipe leading from near the bottom of the pressure chamber to the feed water heating compartment and to the auxiliary, heating, or storage compartment; means controlled by the water level in said feed water heating compartment to supply steam to the pressure chamber when the water level in said feed Water heating compartment falls below a predetermined point thereby building up'a pressure in said pressure chamber which forces the water therein through the delivery pipe into the feed water heating and/or the auxiliary, or storage, compartment; means to heat the water in said feed water heating and auxiliary, or storage, compartments; means controlled by the water level in the pressure chamber to shut off the steam supply thereto when the water level therein falls below a predetermined point and means to relieve the pressure that exists therein after the steam supply is shut-off.

7. A feed water heater for locomotives comprising a tender having a main water compartment with a varying water level therein, a feed water heating compartment and a vented pressure chamber, means providing for gravitational flow of water from the main compartment into the pressure chamber, a water delivery pipe leading from near the bottom of the pressure chamber to the feed water heating compartment, means controlled jointly by the water level in the feed water heating compartment and in the presure chamber to supply steam to the pressure chamber when the water level in the feed water heating compartment is below a predetermined point and the water level in the pressure chamber is above a predetermined point.

8. A feed water heater for locomotives com prising a tender having a main water compartment with a varying water level therein, a feed water heating compartment and a vented pressure chamber, means providing for gravitational flow of water from the main compartment into the pressure chamber, a water delivery pipe lead.- ing from near the bottom of the pressure chamber to the feed water heating compartment, means controlled jointly by the water level in the feed water heating compartment and in the pressure chamber to supply steam to the pressure chamber when the water level in the feed water heating compartment is below a predetermined point and the water level in the pressure chamber is above a predetermined point and to shut ofi the supply of steam when the water level in the feed water heating compartment rises to another predetermined point.

9. A feed water heater for locomotives comprising a tender having a main water compartment with a varying water level therein, a feed water heating compartment and a vented pressure chamber, means providing for gravitational flow of water from the main compartment into the pressure chamber, a water delivery pipe leading from near the bottom of the pressure chamber to the feed water heating compartment, means controlled jointly by the water level in the feed water heating compartment and in the pressure chamber to supply steam to the pressure chamber when the water level in the feed water heating compartment is below a predetermined point and the water level in the pressure chamber is above a predetermined point and to shut off the supply of steam when the water level in her, a water delivery pipe leading from near the bottom of the pressure chamber to the feed water heating compartment, a steam supply pipe leading to the feed water heating compartment and. two valves therein, one controlled by a float in the feed water heating compartment and the other by a float in the pressure chamber.

MYRON W. DOLE. 

